Back in 1992, Darkthrone released the first part of a trilogy of legendary albums, A Blaze In The Northern Sky. It was notorious for its riffs that recalled their past as a death metal band yet played in full black metal fashion. Now, 20 years later, one band decides to take this teaching and use it for its own depraved purposes. Beware folks, things are about to get nasty.

Instead of death metal, what the Belgians from Alkerdeel are doing is playing their doom and sludge tunes under a black metal blanket, together with some lesser droning sounds here and there. That's already a fair warning of how dense this is. What's special about their sound is how the mix of genres is so homogenous when you look at the big picture. There isn't any style that takes over another yet you can stop any time and look at each tree instead of the forest (or shitty swamp in this case...) and easily point out the different parts that fit in this wicked album.

This very natural sound is enhanced by the production. Making the experience as real as possible is crucial here and after seeing them at Roadburn, I have to say they achieved their goal with flying colours. The small amount of takes in order to give it a "live" vibe is admirable if you look at the sheer length of some tracks and the brilliant performance, where everyone gives their 101%. While the vocals rarely let go off the insanity rate, the drumming is simply relentless at times and the guitars create a mesmerizing wall of sound with punch-to-the-throat riffs... yet it was the bass that won. I rarely hear an album that puts so much emphasis on that instrument. The warm and pulsing sound of it contributes with such a great layer that works nicely with the band's harsher moments.

Noticed how I wrote "some tracks" a while ago? On Morinde, not only the style is eclectic, but also the length of the tracks - which is nowhere near what you would call "balanced". At almost 42 minutes the album consists of songs roughly 13, 2, 6 and 20 minutes long respectively, yet oddly enough it all makes sense. Every song justifies its length and makes the most of it whether it is by short bursts of rocking riffs, batshit crazy blasting intensity, slow and painful sludge or by droning and highly hypnotic passages.

Released near the end of February, Morinde is already one of the best extreme metal albums of the year. Highly recommended for anyone that views him/herself as a fan of sick and filthy music.

Saw you, Joe and Marcel rave about this in the album's thread but forgot all about because the exams are near and shit is about to get serious. Must get this as soon as I can after this nice little review

This is my first sludge album ever, and after the first listen of it, I really don't know what to say. I just don't like it, as in REALLY don't like. I think I missed the point of it. Tomorrow I'll give it a focused spin.

This is my first sludge album ever, and after the first listen of it, I really don't know what to say. I just don't like it, as in REALLY don't like. I think I missed the point of it. Tomorrow I'll give it a focused spin.

There is sludge in it but it is not really sludge because of all the black and doom and even some slight death.

But thios album album is totally awesome and totally not for the faint of heart. And live it is even dirtier.

This is my first sludge album ever, and after the first listen of it, I really don't know what to say. I just don't like it, as in REALLY don't like. I think I missed the point of it. Tomorrow I'll give it a focused spin.

This is my first sludge album ever, and after the first listen of it, I really don't know what to say. I just don't like it, as in REALLY don't like. I think I missed the point of it. Tomorrow I'll give it a focused spin.

Same as Marcel... This isn't pure sludge which I think I made perfectly clear on my review. It has black, sludge, doom and even some slight touches of death and drone all over it.

Shame that you don't like it. This is one of this year's finest extreme metal albums and live is indeed a whole new level.

After a few more listens, I think it's quite decent, yet nothing mindblowing. I would give it a 7 ATM, but I'll listen to it more.

Well, tastes differ... To me this is a brilliant mix. Original, well played, magnificent use of the bass and all the genres are blended perfectly to the point that there's no big distinction between sounds. Definitely one of the albums I would give as an example of truly "organic" sound.

After a few more listens, I think it's quite decent, yet nothing mindblowing. I would give it a 7 ATM, but I'll listen to it more.

Well, tastes differ... To me this is a brilliant mix. Original, well played, magnificent use of the bass and all the genres are blended perfectly to the point that there's no big distinction between sounds. Definitely one of the albums I would give as an example of truly "organic" sound.

I agree with you that this is a great album, but I guess it isn't made for me.